Precautions for lifting restrictions Professional Sports

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AIM

To provide research-based guidance on how best to facilitate the safe and gradual resumption of professional sports and have effective measures in place to protect the health of athletes, staff and supporting personnel by reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission during professional sports training sessions as much as practicable.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING

Limit the occupancy of the training venue/ground at 12-36 meters square per person.
A safe distance of 2-3 meters should be maintained between people when exercising.

VENUE

Outdoor training sessions are better ventilated than indoor sessions and thus less risk of transmission.
Ensure physical distancing advice is followed.
Indoor venues should be reduced capacity to allow at least 2-3 meters spacing between athletes.
Up to 50% capacity of any space used provided minimum safe distance is maintained.

FACILITIES

An isolation room/space identified to hold any symptomatic person found at the venue while awaiting patient transport to a medical facility is necessary.
Having a medical post and designated personnel on-site is advisable to help assess cases and potentially other illnesses.

VULNERABLE GROUPS

Special considerations made for vulnerable groups to keep them safe and protected.
Vulnerable groups are advised to stay at home.

INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Regular testing for employees as per MOPH guidelines.
Masks to be worn by all staff and athletes while not training.
Distribute hand sanitizers at multiple locations in the training facility and accommodation.
Ensure good hygiene signage is distributed across all venues, changing rooms, training facilities, etc.
Athletes and employees are advised to avoid touching surfaces and their nose, eyes, or mouth.
Towels recommended for use once only.
Avoid physical contact, e.g., hugging, handshakes, etc.
Cleaning and disinfection of sports equipment mandatory.
Players should use their drinking bottles and not share with others.
No spitting on the field of play.

EDUCATION & AWARENESS

Provide Athletes and staff with advice on cough etiquette and hand-hygiene practices.
Provide Athletes and staff with information on physical distancing.
Provide Athletes and staff with information on the use of face coverings and medical masks.

PRE-TRAINING

Ensure capacity to isolate suspected cases.
Provide disposable gloves to staff handling laundry, towels, etc.
Make tissues and containers to dispose of used tissues with lids available on all buses and in all facility changing rooms.
Consideration of provision of individual prevention packages for athletes containing:

Small personal packages of disposable tissues and plastic bags for tissue disposal
Small laminated prevention card with key reporting information
Medical mask to wear if they are ill (any symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath)
Small packages of an alcohol-based hand wipes
A small package of disposable plastic drinking cups
Thermometer
Hand sanitizer

Due to participating in training, anyone who feels ill should not come to the venue and be advised on the designated contact online or by telephone.

DURING TRAINING

Wash hands often with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water not available.Hand sanitizer stations should be available throughout the training facility.
Athletes should not share clothing, bar soap or other personal items.

REGULATING ENTRY AND EXIT

Regulate entry to ensure training premises does not become overcrowded.
Thermal screening of employees and customers (entry prohibited for those over 38 degrees).
Etheraz App to be downloaded by all staff, and check that the status is green to allow entry.

TO REMAIN CLOSED

COVID-19 Services Assistant خدمة المساعدة الخاصة بكوفيد-19